Washing-machine



(Model.) 2SheetsSheet 1. C. E. WILLIAMS.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 442,408. Patented Deo. 9, 1890.

WMM/1 @we A (Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2. C. E. WILLIAMS.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 442,408. Patented Deo. 9, 1890.

PIE- 3- f@ il fi nu F ll.

'i UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

CHARLES EDWTIN TlLLlAMSQ OF UTIOA, NEV YORK.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,408, dated December 9, 1890. p

Application tiled August 19,- 1890. Serial No. 362.432. (Model.)

at Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vash-Boards, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates to that class of wash-boards which are provided with a rubbing device as a substitute for the hands of a user in the ordinary wash-board, thus obviating 1n uch of the painful and laborious work necessary with such a board.

This invention consists in various improvements in the construction of wash'boards of the class above mentioned, and said invention I will first be fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure l is a central vertical sectional view of a wash-board embodying my improvements in a tub in position for use; Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof, the rubber being shown in the other position from that shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3, a central longitudinal sectional view ofthe same, the rubber being shown in its intermediate position; Fig. 4, a top or plan view with a fragment broken out to show one end of the rod D more plainly; Fig. 5, a bottom end elevation, the lower ends of the legs being cut in section on the dotted line 5 5 in Fig-l; and Fig. 6, a transverse sectional view through the soap-box and upper portion of the board on the dotted line o' o'.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the sides of the main frame of the board; B, the rubber; O, the swinging arms; D, a bent rod; E, E', and F, links by which the rubber is connected through the arms O with the frame-work of the board; G, the

soap-box, and H a projection or stop generally mounted upon said soap-box, which is adapted to be drawn up against the inner side of the tub, as shown in Fig. l, and thus serve as a clamp for holding the board in proper position in the tub.

The sides A of the wash-board are connected together at their upper ends by the head-piece A', which is screwed, nailed, or otherwise secured thereon. At the lower end they are kept from swinging too far apart by the bent rod D, the ends of which engage therewith, as shown most plainly in Figs. Lt and 5. Near the upper ends grooves a are formed in their inside faces, into which the ends of the 'bot-n tom of the soap-box enter, and lower down is a series of bearings for the gudgeons of the rollers A2, which form the rubbing-surface;

The rubber B consists of substantially a rectangular frame made preferably of substantially the form shown, the upper cross` port-ion of which forms the handle, and the lower cross portion ot' which is ot' considerable width, and has its under side (which is immediately above the rollers constituting the rubbing-surface of the board) corrugated. This rubber in operation is moved up and down over said rubbing-surface in a manner which will be readily understood.

The partsv C, D, E. E', and F, as before stated, serve to connect the rubber to the frame of the wash-board. These devices are so formed and connected together, as will be presently described, that the rubber is carried in a plane substantially parallel with that of the surface of the wash-board in its ordinary movement, and thus the rubbing is made uniform at all points when this device is used.

The swinging arms C are formed, preferably, of a single rod of metal bent in the form shown most plainly in Fig. 5, the ends of which enter bearings in the lower ends of the sides of the rubber B. The horizontal portions below the board pass through 'bearings in the links E and E', and the central portion, which is bent down still lower, passes through a bearing in the link F, said links also having bearings which pass over` correspending portions of the bent rod D. Said, Y

bent rod D extends from the sides A of the frame of the wash-board a little distance toward the center at cach side, (at the points marked 61,) and is then bent down to a point marked d substantially the same distancelll ICO

above said points d, and at said lower point.l engages with the link F, while the centrali? portion of the rod forming the arms C also engages with the lower end ot' said link F.

' of the rubber is e erally.

The ettect ot this is thatastroke ot the rubber can be' 'carried through a distance almost twice as great as the distance between the pivot-points of the swinging arms in a plane so nearly parallel with the straight face of the wash-board as to permit it to be considered as traveling in such a plane for all practical purposes. In order to insure that lhelinks shall all travel together without getting caught on centers, a small rod F is provided, which passes through a bearing 1n the link F to one side ot and between the4 rods C and D and enters corresponding bearings in the links E and E', as shown most plainly in Figs. 3 and 5. .c

i The rod D not only serves as a part of the mechanism by which the peculiar movement permitted, but also, as before stated, connects the lower ends of 'the sides A together. It extend-s some distance from the point where it approaches said sides A toward the lower end of said sides, andisembedded in grooves in the innerfaces't-lfiereof,y (see particularly Figs.` ,8, 4, and 5,). but does not quite touch the bottomot said grooves, as shown. At its extreme. ends itis bent again and passes down through holes inthe sides A, as shown most plainly at `the lefft ot Fig. 5. The portions in the., grooyes, not be-A lng quite in contact with the bottom thereof, permit the sidesA to be sprung together somewhat for the purpose of holding the proiectlouor stop H, asfhereinlafter explained, and also serve to brace and stiften the.ifr'ziine.'gen

This bent rod D thus practically forms a portion of the framerwoi-k ot the.v board, the other portidnsbeing the, s idesLA and head-pieceA.

The soap-box G has projecting endsri to` its bottom, which enterthe grooves q.. in the sidesy It iS onnbiod.. to bonlovod, to within the limit of the A of the board. any location desired lengthl of these -slot-s.

The projection or stop l-l is simply metal wire or rod, the ends of whichenter. bearings in thesides of thesoap-bOX, 21S shown., When 1 the board is placed in the.tub,ltl;telo,wer ends tho soorfioox together somewhat and binds p Said soar-box is quite firmly in position.

then force'd'up as far'towardthe upper ends of the grooves a vas it will go, bringing this Stopk H nsoino fno innor Sn-.nfooo of thesis-.o of the tub upon which the. upper` end of the wash-board rests,and thus constitutesa clamp,

holding said wash-board tirnzilyin. tub,

it tot use withI such smaller tub.

AAs before described, the rod D, by which of thesidesA areL forced down intothevl'ower. Ycorner of said tub ti ghtl y,wh;ilch press that. the bearings are in triangular relation.

I also prefer that lthe side projection shall be somewhat greater on the links E and E than it is on the link F; but the precise projection or relation is not material. The result (that of preventing the parts from getting caught on centers) will be accomplished so long as substantially the arrangement shown is employed. This rod FV also limits the movement olf' the rubberand stops it at the` proper point .on oooh ond. of its travolmroronting said, roo

bol' from. AStriking: tho trib in its downward movement and from paSSlllg entirely beyond the rollers ory rabbino-surface. offV the board when moved in either direction.- It iS Somownni, yielding or elastic, and the termination ot the stroke isthusrendered less abrupt,V and therefore doos not cause any-ian upon tho hondo. of ino uson- Having thus fully described myl said invention what I claim, as new, an d desire to secure by Lottors. Paton-fl, is-

1- 'Filo oolnbinoifiomirith a wash-board and itsN movable rubber, of connection g mechanism consisting ot' the swinging arms C, bent rod D, and linko E, E', and F, Snbstanlinlir es doscribed.

2, The oomhinatiomin mechanism for oonnootins n. wash-board and its rubber, of the `bont rodi?, tho swine-ins errno C, ooinposod of n. Single piooo, and. also bont. downwardly in its Genion, links. EE' and F, and a Supplemental rod F', substantially as and forthe purpose sot.- forth..

' 3 Tho oonlbination, in a washfboord, of tho sides A, containing grooves, th e, soapbox G, mounted. in seid. grooves, ond. a proiootion or oiioohod. to said Soap-box, .whereby the wash-board may be, held in position` in the tub, substantially as Sofforth.

4,. Tnooombinationdn a wash-boord, of sido pieces supporting a rubbing-surface, aurubber having a corrugated faceadapted to move in a substantially parallel lplane. over said rub- .bi.na-snrfooo Said rubber boing connected ro solo. boord by moansof swinging ovino., which entend. bolow.- Sojo boord and are there oonnected to said traineV by means of swinging links,v and, Supporting and governing nodo fon SeidV links, substantially as Showna-i dosoribod In witness whereotl have hereunto set my hond: and Seal', ot Kalamazoo, Miohison, this 14th doy 'of` August, A. D. 1890.

CHARLESV EDWIN' WILL-MMS,

WV i tnesses:A

WM. BALLANTINE, GEORGE M. WEST. 

